Harrogate MP spells out situation on vaccine rollout in Yorkshire

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Seeking to challenge examples of what he says is 'fake news', he also said that "COVID-19 patients are not being brought from London to Harrogate Hospital".

Claims that Yorkshire and the North East is set to have its allocation of the jabs halved due to performing so well have been raised by the national media after the Health Service Journal (HSJ) reported that health officials in Yorkshire had been told their vaccine supplies would be rationed since they were doing so well in rolling it out and limited supplies had to be diverted to areas which were struggling to reach vulnerable people.

More locally, today's Yorkshire Post has reported Health Secretary Matt Hancock as saying the supply of coronavirus vaccines is currently “lumpy”.

The newspaper also highlighted substantial geographical disparities so far in the vaccination programme.

According to official figures, between December 8 and January 19 some 670,778 people in Yorkshire and the North East have had their first dose, and 71,378 second doses have been delivered, making 742,156 in total.

Meanwhile in London a total of 476,168 jabs have been given, including 423,733 first doses and 52,435 second doses.

But in his latest Covid vaccination newsletter issued today, Friday, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones spells out clearly how he views the current situation after talking to the NHS.

Under the heading, Local vaccination and COVID-19 fake news, Harrogate's Tory MP says the following:

"The Harrogate vaccination centre isn’t seeing a lot of cancelled appointments.

"Some were cancelled in the snow and the centre operates a reserve list of people to vaccinate when appointments are cancelled in order that no vaccine is wasted.

"They are not advertising for people to come forward without an appointment.

"Vaccines are only administered by clinically trained professionals. Volunteers only help with administration, car parking and general guidance.

"COVID-19 patients are not being brought from London to Harrogate Hospital.

"Reports that the number of vaccines supplied to our region are being halved are just wrong.

"I have checked this with the NHS and the number of vaccines supplied to our region this week is 364,000, next week it will be 300,000 and the week after that 350,000.

"The story is wrong in terms of numbers and trend."

His newsletter to local residents covers a wide range of Covid-related news, including the following:

Vaccinations progress

"In York and North Yorkshire as of Monday of this week there had been 52,500 vaccinations delivered to the extremely clinically vulnerable groups and a further 12,000 in hospitals to front line health and care workers. In our area the majority of vaccinations are being delivered at the centre at the Yorkshire Showground.

"Around half of care homes had been vaccinated (staff and residents) and the team plan to have the remaining care homes vaccinated within just days. This is quite phenomenal. Well done to the team.

"Seventy per cent of the over-80s in Yorkshire have been vaccinated.

"Nationally, nearly 5 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine."

Getting to your vaccination appointment

"There is plenty of parking at the Showground on Wetherby Road.

"If you do not drive then the Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) may be able to assist and more information is available at http://www.helpharrogate.org.uk/. Strict eligibility criteria apply.

"The Harrogate Bus Company has told me that on Monday they are starting a new service from the bus station to the showground and back.

"This service will operate from 8am to 8pm and is free to use.

"The bus sets off from the station at 10 to the hour and 20 past the hour.

"It leaves the showground at 5 past the hour and 25 to the hour. It will be an electric bus.

How to find out more

To get more updates from the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, sign up at the bottom of Andrew’s homepage at https://andrewjonesmp.co.uk

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